Retractable clothesline hanger



4June 28, 1949. G. B. `ciu-ROLL 2,474,655

4 RETRACTABLE CLOTHESLINE HANGER Filed Deo. 1o, 1945 s sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR by 73. faf/v l l BY N,

` ATTO qu. m

G. B. CARROLL mi g1 INVENTOR a? 73. Caf/V// BY Y ATTORNEY TQ. Rom.

RETRACTABLE CLOTHESLINE HANGER mfnl IIIJINFIIIIII/ `June 2s, 1949.

Filed Dec. 1Q, 1945 G. B. CARROLL RETRACTABLE CLOTHESLINE HANGER June 28, 1949.

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Filed D60. 10. 1945 milaf IIL 2 l INVETOR @ay Hwy/ wg ffl,

' ATTO NEY Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 2,474,655 RETRACTABLE CLOTHESLINE HANGER Guy B. Carroll, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application December 10, 1945,

12 Claims. l

My present invention relates to improvements in clothesline hangers and, more particularly, to such a hanger that is retractable.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a retractable hanger, usable in pairs to hold a clothesline threaded back and forth therebetween and when retracted, carries the clothesline laterally therewith without changing its attachment or relation thereto.

A further object of this invention is to pron vide a retractable clothesline hanger having a novel latch for holding the same retracted.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the drawings.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement hereinafter described and dened in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which ill14s trate the invention, like characters indicate lia-e parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top view of two of the retractable hangers attached to overhead joist, and having a clothesline threaded back and forth therebetween;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1, and further showing intermediate joist;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one oi the hangers shown in Fig. 2 with the clothesline sectioned on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, said view also showing the hanger in a retracted position by means of broken lines;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view with some parts sectioned on line 4-4 of Fig. `3, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a detail view partly in elevation and partly in section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. and on the same scale as Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view partly in elevation and partly in section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3, on the same scale as Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a rear elevational view of the parts shown in Fig. 6 removed from the joist; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view showing the latch in section taken on the line -8 of Fis. 7, and also showing one of the links in Contact with the cam plate.

The numeral 8 indicates two outer joist and the numeral 9 indicates two inner joist that aiford support for the clothesline hangers.

Two of the retractable hangers A and B are employed to hold a clothesline I0 threaded baci; and forth therebetween. These two holders Aw Serial N0. 633,907

and B are turned toward each other and each thereof includes a horizontal rectangular frame Il comprising a pair of end bars I2, front and rear crosstie bars I3 and Ill, respectively, and an oblique crosstie bar I5. These bars I2, I3, Irl and I5 are all rigidly connected. The end portions of the end bars I2 are turned downwardly to afford hinge lugs I6.

Upstanding ears I1 overlap the rear pair of hinge lugs I6, outwardly thereof and are secured thereto by headed rivets It. The frames II extend transversely under the joist il and s with the ears I1 overlapping the joist 8, at their outer faces and are secured thereto by lag-screws I9. Said frames Il are secured to the joist by screws I9.

Horizontal angle bars 2li and 2K3' are held suspended from the frames II of the hangers A and B, respectively, by pairs of upright links 2| for endwise and upwardly swinging movement in vertical planes. These links 2l, at their upper end portions, are pivoted on the rivets Iii and their lower end portions overlap the inner faces of the upturned flanges of the angle bars Z5 and 20' and are pivoted thereto by headed rivets 22. The horizontal flanges of the angle bars 25 and 2D are turned toward each other.

Upwardly and outwardly inclined brace bars 23 extend from the angle bars 2li and 2li' to the outer corners of the frames Il. The upper end portions of the brace bars 2.3 are bent into the form of right angles 24, the outer members thereof overlapping the inner faces of the outer hinge lugs I6 and are pivoted thereto by rivets 25. These braces 23, at their lower end portions, are bent downwardly parallel to the links 2|, as indicated at 26 and pivoted on the rivets 22.

Secondary brace bars 21 connect the brace bars 23, at medial points, to the links 2l, at their upper end portions. Obviously, the links 2l, brace bars 23 and 21 afford end brackets The angle bars 20 and 20 connect the end brackets 28 in pairs with freedom to swing laterally on the rivets I8 and 25 in vertical planes, transversely of the hangers A and B. Lateral swinging movement of the end brackets 2B will carry the angle bars 2|) and 20' endwise and upwardly and position said brackets and angle bars, substantially l in the same horizontal plane close to the under sides of the frames II. Il) is attached to the angle by upstanding headed studs rig- The clothesline bars 20 and 20' idly secured to the horizontal flanges of said These studs are spaced equidisangle bars. tances apart longitudinally 'of the angle bars Ito afford a nger 36 v31 on which the `angle bar .123

and 20 and designated by the numeral 29, except for the end stud 3|! on the angle bar 2li and the end stud 3|. These studs 3e and 3| are on opposite ends of the angle bars 2i! and Et'.

The clothesline I has in one of its end portions a loop 32 and in its other end portions a loop 32'. As shown, the loop 32 is placed over the stud 35i, threaded back and forth between the angle bars and `211 and passed around the lstuds 25. Primarily, thellength .of the clothesline la is l.such that when drawn taut, the loop 32' may be placed over the stud 3| to complete the attachmentpi the clothesline l0 to the hangers A and B. As stretch develops in the clothes-line lil, the loop 32' may be removed from the stud ,3| and the clothesline l0 placed around said stud land ythe loop 32' placed over one ottwoxstnds on .the angle bar 20 between the stud 3| and the adjacent stud 29, as shown. If further slack devel-- ops in the clothesline il), the loop 32 may be removed from the stud Mirthe clothesline l i! `[placed around said stud andthe loop 232 placed over one of two ystuds 33 on the angle .har 'til'.

To hold each hanger A .and 'B retracted, .to

leave head room under said hangers and :the

clothesline 0, I provide `a vnovel latch 34 `:therefor As the two latches '34 are identical, theorie :with the other, the description of .one will. suiicerflor the other and hence `the latch .34 forthe hangers B will be described. This 'latch .34 is formed-vof a single round rod turnably mounted, `near .onefof its end portions, in a bearing35 on the under side of one of the endfbars l2, closeto the connected link 21. The bearing/35 `.holds the latch 34 :for swinging-movement 20'. The short end of the rod is bent `forwardly that extends-transversely under the lcrosstie bar I4, parallel thereto, .and normally engages the same as arstop for the latch 34. The vlong end portion of the rod is bena-mst rearwardly from the bearing 35,1thengdownwardly, then forwardly to afford y'a supporting shoulder V:rests Lwhen in a raised position, as shown Yby* broken'lines .in'Fig 3 and full lines in Figs.-6and 7. *Fromthe support- .i

ing shoulder 31,` the rod is 'bent downwardly and rearwardly to afford an oblique cam member. Said rod, at the lower end yof thecam member 38, is bent laterally parallelto the angle bar 120 to aord a ngerpiece 39.

The latch 34 is held in an operative position, with its stopnger 36 against the bar. i4, bythe `force of gravity. Normally, the cam member 38 is in the path of movement ofrthe angle bar 20 when being raised. A tends transversely under the supporting vshoulder 31 and isrigidly secured thereto at its longitudinal center. This plate also curves upwardly on the cam member 38 on the outsidethereof and :reinforces said plate. The ends of thesplatedll converge from rthe curved portionof said plate to :the outer end of the supportingshouldert31 to afford cams 4|. f

Obviously, the hangers A kand yB maybe raised or lowered without removing the clotheslinexl 'therefrom or changingl its attachment athereto.

Furthermore, there is no slack put in the-clothesline IU at any time, either during the Vraising .or lowering of the hangers A and B orwhen the same are held retracted by the latches 34.

When raising lthe hangers A and B, the angle bars 20 and 20 engage the cam member V38 and thereby swing the latches 34 out of the pathsof movement of said angle bars as shown -by broken lines in Fig. 6. As the angle bars =20 and 20 pass transversely ofthe englobar horizontal cam plateau)` eX- r portions of the links upwardly out of engagement with the cam members 38, the latches 34 are returned to operative positions by the force of gravity, and position the supporting shoulders 31 under the angle bars 2|) and 20 and support the same when released, shown by full lines in Figs. 4 and 5.

To lower the hangers A and B, it is only necessary to take hold of the ngerpieces 39 and move the latches 34 into inoperative position, as one of which shown` by broken lines in Fig. 6.

During the return movement of the hangers A and B, the adjacent links 2| are in the paths of movement of the latches 34 and are moved out of :said-paths by the .cams 4l From what has been said, it will be understood thatthe-retractable clothesline hanger described 4is,-lcapabieof modification as to details of construction and arrangement within the scope of the linvention disclosed and claimed.

What I claim is:

1.v In a hanger `of the class described. a hori .'zontalframe having means for attaching the same to a support, said fram-e including end bars, theencl portions of which are turned downwardly to alford front and rear pairs of hinge lugs, a bar having means for attaching a clothesline thereto, a pivoted pair of links suspending the bar from the rear Jpair of hinge lugs for endwise and upwardly swinging movement in a vertical plane, and pivoted braces extending from the ,lower end to the front pair of hinge lugs.

2. In a hanger of the class described, a` horizontal lrectangular' frame, a pair of .end brackets pivoted to the frame for lateral upwardly swinging `movement in a vertical plane below the frame, a bar pivoted to the brackets for endwise .and upwardly swinging movement in said plane, said bar having means for attaching a Vclothesline thereto, said :trame having upstanding ears for attaching the frame to an overhead support and holding the same in engagement with. the support, the rear edgeof the frame, the ears and the y ing movement in a vertical plane, and a bar pivoted to the end brackets for endwise and upwardly swinging movement therewith in said plane, said attaching `a clothesline means `for holding the retracted.

5. In a hanger of the class described, a frame having means for attaching the same? toa support, a pair of end brackets pivoted to the frame and suspended therefrom for lateral upwardly swinging movement in a vertical plane, a bar pivotedtothe end brackets for endwise and upwardly swinging movement therewith, said 4bar having `bar is swung upwardly,

a single rod pivotally mounted near one of its end portions on the frame to turn about a horizontal axis, the short end portion of the rod being bent laterally to afford a nger that normally engages the frame as a stop and releasably holds the latch in an operative position, the long end portion of the rod at its bearing being bent first horizontally, then downwardly and again horizontally to afford a supporting shoulder that extends across the path of movement of tn e bar, said rod, at its supporting shoulder, being bent outwardly and downwardly to aflord an oblique cam member that is engaged by the bar during its upwardly swinging movement and operates the latch to move its supporting shoulder out of said path of movement.

6. In a hanger of the class described, a frame having means for attaching the same to a support, a pair of end brackets pivoted to the frame and suspended therefrom for lateral swinging movement in a vertical plane, a bar pivoted to the end brackets for endwise and upwardly swinging movement therewith, said bar having means for attaching a clothesline thereto, and a latch having a supporting shoulder pivoted on the hanger, gravity held in an operative position and provided with a depending cam-acting member in the path of movement of one of the end brackets when the whereby the engagement of the end bracket with the cam-acting member will move the latch into an operative position and hold the same until the bar has passed the same and engaged the supporting shoulder.

7. In a hanger of the class described, a pair of parallel end bars having front and rear ends and applicable to an overhead support, a bar having means for attaching a clothesline thereto, a pivoted pair of links suspending the bar from the rear end of the end bars, and pivoted braces extending obliquely from the lower end portions of the links to the front end of the parallel end bars.

8. The structure deiined in claim 7 in which all of the pivots of the links and the braces extend substantially parallel to the end bars.

9. The structure defined in claim 7, further including secondary braces attached to the upper end portions of the links and the intermediate portions of the iirst noted braces.

10. A self-contained hanger of the class described, comprising a horizontal rectangular frame having front and rear ends and applicable to an overhead support, a bar having means for holding a clothesline, a pair of pivoted links holding the bar suspended from the rear end portion of the frame, and oblique pivoted braces connecting the bar to the front end portion of the frame.

11. In a hanger of the class described, a frame having means for attaching the same to a support, a pair of end brackets pivoted to the frame and suspended therefrom for lateral upwardly swinging movement in a vertical plane, a bar pivoted to the end bracket for endwise and upwardly swinging movement therewith, said bar having means for attaching a clothesline thereto, and a latch on the hanger yieldingly held in an operative position for holding the end brackets and the bar in their raised position, said latch having a cam member in the path of movement of one of the end brackets when the bar is swung upwardly, whereby the engagement of said end bracket with the cam-acting member will move the latch into an inoperative position and hold the same until the bar has passed the same.

12. In a hanger of the class described, a frame having means for attaching the same to a support, a bar having means for attaching a clothesline thereto, a pair of pivoted links suspending the bar from the frame for endwise and upwardly swinging movement in a vertical plane, a latch pivoted to the frame and held by the force of gravity in an operative position for holding the bar in a raised position, and a cam on the latch normally in the path of movement of one of the links during its endwise and upwardly swinging movement, whereby the cam will be engaged by the respective link and moved thereby together with the latch into inoperative positions to permit said link to pass the cam and the latch.

GUY B. CARROLL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

